Ski mountaineering became a brand-new Olympic sport at the 2026 Winter Games, the first new Winter Olympic sport in 28 years. In Bormio, Italy, athletes raced up a snowy mountain with skis, poles, and backpacks, then switched their gear quickly before skiing back down. They used special “skins” on the bottoms of their skis so they would not slide backward while climbing. Many racers said the sport feels tough but exciting because it pushes their bodies and lets them be out in wild mountain weather. The day ended with big wins for Switzerland’s Marianne Fatton and Spain’s Oriol Cardona Coll, and athletes like Anna Gibson showed that loving an activity and working hard can sometimes lead to surprising success. Create an illustration that teaches a classmate what ski mountaineering is. Describe the main parts of the race in order and draw pictures to go along with each step.

Alysa Liu won a gold medal in figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics by performing with unusual freedom and confidence. After retiring from competitive skating at 16, she later returned on her own terms, focusing less on pressure and more on artistry. Her skating was described as smooth and flowing, with expressive movements that matched the music and showed her personality. While other skaters struggled under Olympic stress, Liu seemed relaxed and fully present, moving with warmth instead of fear. Her performance showed that figure skating can be more than jumps and scores; it can also be a powerful form of self-expression and joy. Think about an activity you do that can feel stressful sometimes, like a sport, music, art, or even a big school project. In a paragraph of 5 to 6 sentences, explain one part that usually makes people feel pressure and one change that could help someone feel more “free” while doing it. Then describe what “doing it for joy” would look like, sound like, or feel like, and end with one encouraging sentence you would say to a friend who is nervous.

In the late 1960s, when someone had a medical emergency in many cities, they were often transported in a police wagon or hearse and received little or no treatment on the way to the hospital. In Pittsburgh, a group called the Freedom House Ambulance Service changed that by training mostly Black men and women to provide advanced emergency care before patients reached the hospital. They learned to perform CPR, start IVs, use defibrillators, and give other lifesaving treatments that were rare at the time. Their work helped create the modern emergency medical services system that communities across the country now depend on. Although their program was eventually replaced and their contributions were largely forgotten for years, lawmakers are now working to honor Freedom House for transforming emergency care in the United States. Representative Summer Lee, a Democrat from Pittsburgh, introduced a resolution to Congress that would award Freedom House with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor a person or institution can receive from Congress. Representative Mike Kelly, a Republican from western Pennsylvania, is co-sponsoring the bill with Lee along with a bipartisan group of Congresspeople. Create a short museum label as if Freedom House is being featured in a history exhibit. In 5 to 7 sentences, explain who Freedom House was, what problem they were trying to fix, and two examples of important skills they used to save lives. Then add one sentence that tells why it matters to remember helpers from the past, even if they were not celebrated at the time.

In Kalamata, Greece, a huge mural on the side of a building won the “Best Mural of the World” award for 2025. The artwork shows opera singer Maria Callas in a way that stands for the city itself, mixing “high-level” art with local pride. The mural includes Kalamata’s famous foods, like olives, figs, and grapes, and also shows natural elements like birds and tree branches to connect people to the land. City leaders hope the mural helps residents understand ideas like sustainable development and Kalamata’s goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2030. The mural is also bringing attention to the city, helping tourism, and inspiring conversations about how public art can teach and build community pride. Imagine your town or school is getting a giant mural that represents what makes your community special. In 5 to 8 sentences, describe what the mural would show, including at least two local details (like a landmark, food, animal, hobby, or tradition) and one message you want people to learn from it. Explain where the mural would go and why that spot matters.

President Trump said he had told his administration to begin the process of releasing government files related to aliens, extraterrestrial life, and “unidentified flying objects” or U.F.O.s. His comments came after he criticized former President Barack Obama for making a joke in a podcast interview that spread online. The article explains that many sightings people call U.F.O.s can be caused by things like drones, satellites, weather balloons, or secret aircraft, and that some cases remain unsolved. It also says the Pentagon has reported that it has found no evidence that the government has proof of alien technology or alien visits to Earth. Even so, many people remain curious and excited by the mystery, and Trump did not say when the files would be released. Write a paragraph that shows how to think responsibly about big mysteries. In 5 to 7 sentences, explain the difference between a question, a theory, and evidence, and use the U.F.O. story as your example. Include one sentence describing a normal, non-alien explanation for a strange sight in the sky and one sentence explaining what kind of evidence would be needed before people should claim something is definitely aliens.